ok. could i keep convicts in with a danio and a few cory cats as well? or at least a few cories and a few small algae eaters like otocinclus' or a chinese algae eater.
Sounds like you want corys and a chinese algae eater. Just get what you want. You won't be happy til you do. But be warned your algae eater will get as big as your pleco is now and without enough food it will latch on your other fish.
Easiest fish to keep is not so much species but light stocking. If you understock your tank it will stay nice and not be a hassle. A small school of tetras a small bottom feeder and an albino pleco will be easy.
I would steer out of a pair of convicts since they will make more convicts in no time and if you choose convicts then they will slaughter every fish in 29gal. But you can keep a singly male convict with a CAE or bristlenose pleco with few dilters.
If your mom is going to take are of the tank.. while your gone... why don't you ask her what she wants? instead of what you want, that your mom is going to be responsible for? or just take the tank down altogether until you can be responsible/time/space/ect for your own tank?